PHOENIX, Ariz. — An impending legal action by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer could prevent nearly 100,000 Arizonans from participating in state and local elections this season. Richer plans to file a lawsuit contending that these individuals have not complied with state laws requiring documented proof of citizenship to vote in these elections.
Arizona’s legislation differs for federal elections, wherein only an affirmation of U.S. citizenship is necessary. However, to partake in state and local ballots, more stringent requirements demand tangible citizenship documentation—often resulting from concerns related to noncitizen voting, despite it being a rare occurrence and unlawful.
In an online statement, Richer, a Republican, emphasized that while these 97,000 voters had sworn they were American under the penalty of law, they had not furnished the requisite documents to corroborate their citizenship claim. Thus, they might find themselves ineligible to cast their vote in imminent local races.
This issue has surfaced following Richer’s examination of how state systems and officials validate citizenship through driver’s license registrations. He identified flaws in these methods, leading to potential disenfranchisement in the nation’s largest battleground county.
Richer, an advocate of transparent electoral processes, has been a vocal critic of unfounded voter fraud theories that have circulated after recent U.S. elections. His diligence in protecting electoral integrity has persisted even after losing a GOP primary to a candidate skeptical of the county’s electoral proceedings.
Meanwhile, at a press conference, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes clarified that the lawsuit seeks a swift resolution to a legal ambiguity, not an altercation or substantive disagreement. Fontes believes the state Supreme Court will swiftly address the matter, coinciding with the mailing of ballots to some military voters.
Fontes also addressed concerns that this legal dispute could fuel further election conspiracy theories. He assured that the state’s approach is factual and transparent, intended to clarify policy driven by longstanding and largely baseless conspiracies surrounding noncitizen voting.
Since 1996, Arizona has required proof of citizenship for driver’s license issuance. Starting in 2004, voter registration systems have coordinated with the Motor Vehicle Division to verify citizenship based on those records. However, Richer’s recent findings pinpoint a significant oversight affecting those who had obtained licenses before this system was implemented and later received replacement licenses.
Richer noted cooperation with Governor Katie Hobbs and other state officials to rectify this issue for future elections. In response, Hobbs’ office has announced plans for an independent audit of the Motor Vehicle Division’s systems to support accurate voter registration.
If the legal proceedings go as planned, affected voters might still be allowed to fully engage in the electoral process provided they furnish the missing documentation before Election Day. The outcome of this lawsuit could impact participation in crucial races on the ballot, including propositions on pressing issues like abortion rights, thereby shaping Arizona’s legislative landscape significantly based on the court’s findings.